tKije  Hibrarp 

oftije 

berSitpofiSortljCaroIina 


lection  of  i^ortfj  Caroliniana 

C8 


UlNivcnoi  1   1   v-"!    ■'■v^ 


00017486917 


This  BOOK  may  be  kept  out  TV/0 
ONLY,    and    is    subject    to    a    fine    o 
CENTS  a  day  thereafter.     It  was  U 
on  the  day  indicated  below: 


THIS  TiIlE  has  been  MlCkOFl 


XTbomasMalton  IPatton 

ffiorn  flDav^  8tb,  1841 
E)icb  IWovcmbcr  6tb,  1907 


R  Bioovapbical  Sf^etcb 


'*  Mrite  me  as  one  wbo  loves  bis  tellow  men.  '' 
**  ^be  worlD  was  bis  country,  to  C>o  o>oo^  bis  religion.  '' 


^^^fis^^^ 


^ 


E)Ut\>  ! 

Subltmest  tbeme  ot  bar^  or  seer  ! 
XTwin  mate  ot  love,  arcb  enemv)  ot  tear  ! 

XTbine  was  bis  worsbtp, 

Uhinc  bis  siiujle  tboucjbt, 

Hub  countless  DeeDs  bis  f^tuMp  bauDs  bave 
wrouobt ! 


Ubomas  Malton  patton 


O  iiiiderstaud  a  man's  character  and 
the  purpose  of  his  life,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  go  back  many  years  before 
his  birth  and  gain  some  knoAyledge 
of  the  ancestry  and  conditions 
which  contributed  towards  making 
him  what  he  was. 

The  Pattons  were  originally 
Scotch  people  of  good  stock,  but 
the  immediate  branch  of  the  family 
under  consideration  moyed  to  the  north  of  Ireland 
The  founder  of  the  family  in  America  was  James 
Tatton,  born  February  13th,  1T5G,  in  the  Parish  of 
Tamlichte,  county  of  Derry.  His  father  died  in 
1742,  leaying  him  the  third  son  of  a  family  of  eight 
sons  and  two  daughters.  James,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seyen  years,  as  he  quaintly  expresses  it, 
''obtained  his  mother's  consent  to  come  to  America 
for  the  purpose  of  procuring  the  necessary  means  of 
bringing  herself  and  family  to  this  land  of  liberty 
where  they  would  no  longer  feel  the  oppression  of 
high  rents  and  haughty  landlords.-' 

This  was  in  1783,  the  passage  from  Lairn  to  Phila 
delphia  taking  two  months.    After  many  vicissitudes 
James   succeeded  in   his  purpose  and   sent   for   his 
mother,  brothers  and  sisters.     Some  of  these  settled 
in  Philadelphia,  others  in  Tennessee,  and  some  in 


South  Carolina  ;  all  becoming  prominent  citizens  of 
their  respective  localities.  The  mother  and  younger 
brothers  with  one  sister  followed  James  into  North 
Carolina  and  eventually  to  Asheville;  Jane,  the 
young  sister,  married  Col.  Andrew  Erwin,  and  later 
moved  to  Tennessee.  To  quote  from  the  autobiog- 
raphy of  James  Patton,  "Col.  Erwin  and  myself  were 
in  partnership  for  twenty  years  and  made  a  complete 
dissolution  in  one  day,  to  the  astonishment  of  every 
Ijerson  of  understanding.  As  he  Avas  the  active  part- 
ner, I  told  him  to  make  a  division  of  the  whole,  ac- 
companied with  a  statement  on  paper,  and  give  me 
my  choice,  which  he  did ;  and  in  this  way  we  came  to 
an  amicable  settlement  at  once." 

Jane  Patton  Erwin's  daughter,  Jane,  married 
tirst,  Thomas  Yeatman  of  Nashville  and  was  the 
mother  of  James  Erwin  Yeatman  of  St.  Louis,  the 
hero  of  AVinston  Churchill's  book,  ''The  Crisis.''  Af- 
ter Mr.  Y^eatman's  death  she  married  Hon.  John  Bell, 
then  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress, afterwards  Secretar}^  of  War,  and  later  the 
candidate  for  the  Presidency  when  Lincoln  was 
elected  in  18G0.  Had  the  advocates  of  "Bell  and  Ev- 
erett" been  successful  in  electing  them  the  war  would 
probabl}^  have  been  averted  and  some  amicable  ad- 
justment of  the  difiticutlies  between  the  sections 
reached. 

The  other  sister  married  a  ^Ir.  Campbell,  of 
Pennsylvania. 

James  Patton  married  a  daughter  of  Erancis 
Reynolds,  one  of  the  first  settlers  on  the  Yadkin  river 


in  Wilkes  county,  N.  C,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  chil- 
dren. James  W.  Patton,  the  eldest  son,  was  born 
February  13,  1803,  and  inherited  all  his  father's  ster- 
ling characteristics.  This  father  left  a  large  estate, 
undivided,  and  only  a  note  to  his  eldest  son  asking 
him  to  divide  it  among  his  brothers  and  sisters  as  he 
deemed  best.  It  is  a  remarkable  record  that  this  was 
done  to  the  entire  content  and  satisfaction  of  every 
one.  James  W.  Pattou  acquired  a  very  large  fortune 
and  married  first,  Clara,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Walton,  of  Burke  county.  The  children  of  this  mar- 
riage Avere  James  Alfred  (first  honor  man  of  class  of 
'51  at  Chapel  Hill),  and  William  Augustus,  both  of 
whom  fell  victims  to  the  diseases  of  camp  life  while 
in  the  Confederate  service,  and  died  in  18G2.  Mr. 
Patton's  second  wife  was  Henrietta  Kerr,  of  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Thomas 
Walton  and  Fanny  Louisa.  "Xo  man  ever  lived  and 
died  more  respected  and  beloved  than  James  W.  Pat- 
ton.  His  sound  business  judgment,  strict  integrity 
and  kindly  disposition  made  hosts  of  friends,  while 
his  social  position  and  wealth  made  him  a  power  for 
good  in  his  section  of  country."  He  died  in  Decem- 
ber, 1861. 

We  thus  see  that  Thomas  W.  Patton  inherited 
from  his  father's  side  many  of  those  traits  which 
made  him  what  he  was.  We  will  now  glance  at  his 
ancestry  on  the  mother's  side. 

Her  father  was  Andrew  Kerr,  born  in  Kelso,  Scot 
land,  September  6th,  1759,  of  the  famous  Kerr  clan 
of  which  Walter  Scott  writes  so  much.    He  was  be- 


lieved  to  be  the  most  direct  descendant  of  the  Dukes 
of  Roxborough.  The  direct  line  in  this  family  in 
Scotland  becoming  extinct,  the  Crown  appointed  a 
successor  from  a  collateral  branch.  Andrew  Kerr, 
having  emigrated  to  America,  and  being  happily  and 
successfully^  established,  made  no  effort  to  enforce  his 
rights — a  difficult  thing  to  do  in  those  troublous 
times.  He  married  Margaret  Hill,  daughter  of  Ca^)- 
tain  Duncan  Hill  (who  died  in  Charleston  in  1799), 
and  of  Elizabeth  Lyons  Hill,  his  wife  (who  died  in 
1802).  Margaret  Hill,  like  her  mother,  was  a  famous 
beaut}'  and  it  Avas  said  of  Andrew  Kerr  that  he  pos- 
sessed the  most  beautiful  wife,  the  handsomest  resi- 
dence, and  the  finest  ship  in  Charleston.  In  one 
year  he  lost  the  ship  by  capture,  in  the  War  of  1812, 
the  house  by  fire,  and  his  wife  by  accident.  She  was 
accompanying  her  eldest  daughter  to  her  first  ball 
Avhen  her  carriage  was  upset  by  a  pair  of  frightened 
horses  running  into  it  from  behind.  Both  ladies 
were  so  seriously  injured  that  they  died  soon  after- 
wards. 

Andrew  and  Margaret  Kerr  left  five  daughters 
and  two  sons ;  Henrietta,  the  fourth  daughter,  was 
born  November  6th,  1806.  She  was  a  woman  of  un- 
usual strength  and  beauty  of  character.  With 
sound  common  sense  she  united  great  sympathy  and 
generosity  of  nature,  and  a  strong  strain  of  the  ro- 
mance and  mvsticism  of  Bonnie  Scotland.     William 


Note. — For  f/oiealof/ij  of  A}ncric(ui  hranch  of  Kerr  fuDiilj/ 
refer  to  Pilgrim  &  PhUlps,  successors  to  Atkinson  and  Pil- 
grim, laicyers,  No.  17  Coleman  St.,  London,  England. 

8 


Wallace  and  Robert  Bruce  were  her  heroes  and  the 
writings  of  Sir  Walter  Scott  her  constant  compan- 
ions, a  volnnie  being  always  found  in  her  work  bas- 
ket. It  was  from  his  mother  that  Thomas  inherited, 
and  at  her  knee  he  acquired  his  intense  passion  of 
patriotism  and  devotion  to  the  highest  ideals.  In 
spite  of  Mrs.  Patton's  love  of  poetry  and  romance, 
her  clear  business  sense  was  such  that  her  eldest 
step-son  woukl  often  say  with  pride,  "Mother  is  the 
best  business  man  I  know;"  while  her  husband  al- 
ways consulted  her  about  his  atfairs,  and  acknowl- 
edged that  he  had  never  gone  contrary  to  her  advice 
without  afterwards  regretting  it. 

Of  such  parentage  was  Thomas  Walton  Patton, 
born  in  Asheville,  X.  C,  May  8th,  1841,  and  named 
for  a  half-brother,  a  very  lovely  and  attractive  child 
who  had  died  a  few  months  before.     His  name  en- 
deared Thomas  to  the  grandparents  of  his  namesake, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walton,  of  Morganton,  with  whom  he 
spent  part  of  every  summer  during  his  boyhood,  and 
whom  he  always  called  ''Grandpa"  and  "Grandma." 
Mr.  James  Patton  made  a  companion  of  his  young 
son   Thomas  and  while   he  was  still   a  boy,  would 
take  him  with  him  on  his  trips  to  South  Carolina, 
Alabama  and  Florida,  in  which  states  he  had  large 
business  interests.     The  lad  was  made  to  attend  to 
the   purchase   of   tickets,   checking   of   baggage   and 
other  details  affecting  the  comfort  of  travel,  and  his 
father  also  confided  to  him  the  particular  matter  of 
business  upon  which  he  Avas  engaged.    The  practical 
knowledge  of  aft'airs  thus  gained  was  of  infinite  value 
in  after  life. 

9 


Thomas  was  educated  by  Col.  Stephen  Lee  at  his 
famous  school  for  boys  in  Chimn's  Cove,  and,  per- 
haps, some  of  the  controlling  influences  of  his  life 
came  from  this  thorough  educator  and  man  of  chiv- 
alrous honor.  Many  of  his  schoolmates  remained 
his  warm  friends  in  after  life. 

Another  strong  formative  influence  came  from 
the  interest  and  companionship  of  that  great  and 
good  man  of  God,  Bishop  Atkinson.  It  was  a  cus- 
tom of  the  Bishop  and  Mrs.  xltkinson  to  spend  a  por- 
tion of  every  summer  as  the  guests  of  their  friends, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  \y.  I'atton,  in  their  beautiful 
home,  the  jiresent  Y.  ^y.  C.  A.  building,  "The  Hen- 
rietta/' on  South  Main  street.  The  Bishop,  after 
paying  his  friends  a  visit,  would  leave  Mrs.  Atkinson 
with  them  while  he  made  his  laborious  journeys 
through  the  mountains.  He  Avould  often  take 
Thomas  with  him  and  this  close  companionship  with 
such  a  magnetic  nature  could  but  arouse  the  highest 
and  noblest  in  the  boy's  nature. 

Thomas  was  graduated  from  Col.  Lee's  school  in 
1860  and  he  then  went  to  Charleston  to  acquire  a 
business  training  in  the  office  of  his  uncle,  Thomas 
Kerr,  a  successful  cotton  factor.  He  lived  in 
the  family  of  his  uncle,  a  man  of  considerable  wealth 
and  influence,  and  he  there  made  many  acipiaint- 
ances  whose  friendship  enriched  his  after  life. 

In  Mr.  Kerr's  office  at  the  same  time  were  his 
young  son  Charles  and  another  young  man.  Hall  T. 
McGee,  all  of  the  same  age,  ;ind  the  three  lads  vied 
with  each  other  in  their  loyal  devotion  lo  Mr.  Kerr, 

10 


from  whom  tliev  received  great  kindness  and  valu- 
able training'.  A  peculiarly  warm  friendship  grew 
up  between  the  young  men  and  though  the  trio  was 
broken  by  the  early  death  of  Charles  Kerr,  who  was 
killed  in' battle  in  ISU,  Thomas  and  McGee  contin- 
ued devoted  friends  through  life. 

Before  Thomas  could  carry  out  his  father's  wish 
of  a  college  course  at  Chapel  Hill,  the  war  clouds 
burst  over  the  doomed  land.  At  the  age  of  nineteen, 
he  enlisted  in  the  Buncombe  Ritles,  in  April,  1801, 
and  marched  away  to  Kaleigh,  where  his  company, 
of  which  his  brother  James  was  a  lieutenant,  was 
incorporated  into  the  1st  X.  C.  regiment  and  being 
hurried  on  to  Virginia,  fought  at  Bethel,  the  tirst 
battle  of  the  great  Civil  War. 

This  Avas  the  first  great  question  in  the  court  of 
morals  or  ethics  that  Thomas  W.  Batton  was  called 
upon  to  decide  for  himself,  and,  although  his  decision 
was  doubtless  largely  influenced  by  the  temper  of 
the  community  in  which  he  resided,  he  never  aftP]- 
wards,  in  years  of  maturity,  doubted  for  one  instant 
that  his  decision  had  been  the  right  and  only  one  he 
could  have  made  under  the  circumstances.  (And 
now,  after  the  lapse  of  a  half  century,  few  will  be 
found  in  this  broad  land  who  will  say  his  decision 
was  wrong). 

The  First  regiment  had  enlisted  for  six  months 
only,  it  being  believed  it  would  take  only  that  tin^e 
''to  whip  out  the  Yankees,"  and  upon  the  expiration 
of  that  time,  the  men  returned  home  and  immediately 
re-enlisted  "for  the  war."     Thomas,  promptly,  and 

11 


largely  at  his  own  expense,  raised  and  equipped  a 
company  of  which  he,  though  still  so  young,  was 
elected  first  lieutenant.  In  a  few  months  he  was 
promoted  to  captain  and  in  command  of  "'Company 
C.  of  the  famous  old  OOth  N.  C.  troops,"  he  continued 
until  the  surrender  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee  by  Gen. 
Joseph  E.  Johnson  at  Greensboro,  X.  C,  April,  1805. 

For  four  long  years,  following  the  flag  of  the  Con- 
federacy through  heat  and  cold,  ragged,  often  bare- 
footed and  almost  starving,  through  many  pitched 
battles  and  countless  skirmishes,  this  3'oung  soldier 
never  faltered  in  devotion  to  his  duty. 

The  OOth  N.  C.  regiment  was  part  of  the  Army  of 
Tennessee,  and  Captain  Patton  participated  in  most 
of  the  battles  in  which  that  army  was  engaged,  the 
bloodiest  and  most  decisive  of  these  being  the  Battle 
of  Chickamauga,  September  20th,  18G4.  He  was  in 
the  immortal  charge  which  broke  the  Federal  lines 
in  that  desperate  struggle.  iVt  the  head  of  sixty 
vigorous  men  composing  Company  C,  he  was  the 
only  one  of  that  gallant  band  able  to  answer  roll 
call  when  that  frightful  contest  was  over. 

It  was  during  this  campaign  and  while  the  army 
lay  in  front  of  Atlanta,  that  he  had  one  of  those  nar- 
row escapes  which  seemed  to  be  his  fortune.  Though 
several  times  struck  by  spent  balls,  he  was  never 
wounded  in  battle.  On  this  occasion  he  was  lying  on 
the  hill  side  enduring  that  hardest  of  a  soldier's  du- 
ties, lying  idle  under  fire,  Avlien  a  ball  struck  a  com- 
rade close  by  his  side,  shattered  his  hip,  bounced  over 
Capt.  Patton,  and  went  through  the  heel  of  the  man 

12 


close  on  his  other  side.  It  is  said  that  during  the 
last  year  of  the  war  he  was  under  fire  every  day ;  and 
when  it  is  remembered  that,  after  having  been  hur- 
ried from  in  front  of  Atlanta  to  fight  the  battle  of 
Franklin,  Tenn.,  Johnson's  army,  then  under  Hood, 
was  hurried  back  to  the  Carolinas  to  hurl  their 
broken  ranks  against  the  victorious  Sherman,  it  is 
probable  that  the  statement  is  almost  literally  true. 
Certain  it  is  that  from  Bethel  to  Benton ville  he  won 
as  he  ever  afterwards  worthily  wore,  the  proud  title 
of  "Captain,"'  than  which  none  can  be  higher  to  the 
one  who  deserved  to  bear  it  as  did  Thomas  W.  Pat- 
ton.  His  kindness  to  his  men  and  care  of  them  often 
at  great  self-sacrifice  won  their  faithful  devotion, 
which  continued  until  the  survivors  followed  him  to 
his  grave  a  half  century  afterwards. 

In  1862,  having  obtained  a  short  furlough,  Capt. 
Patton  was  married  at  Greensboro,  Alabama,  to  An- 
nabella  Beaty  Pearson,  a  niece  of  Chief  Justice  Pear- 
son, who  was  considered  the  greatest  judicial  mind 
that  ever  adorned  the  bench  of  the  Old  North  State. 
Of  this  union  two  children  were  born,  both  dying  in 
infancy. 

The  war  rolled  on,  carrying  ruin  and  sufi'ering  in 
its  wake.  After  participating  in  the  Battle  of  Ben- 
tonville,  thus  being  in  the  first  and  last  fights  of  the 
war,  Capt.  Patton  determined  not  to  surrender  with 
the  Army  of  Tennessee,  but  to  make  his  way  home 
from  Greensboro.  He  started,  accompanied  by  his 
faithful  negro  man  Sam,  who  had  followed  his  foot- 
steps through  all  those  bitter  years.     They  had  an 

13 


old,  brokeu-down  arm}-  horse,  and,  by  "riding  and 
tieing,"  they  made  their  way  into  the  nionntains ; 
but  somewhere  near  Rntherfordton  they  were  cap- 
tured by  a  detachment  of  Federal  troops  under  Col. 
Palmer,  by  whom  Capt.  Patton  was  paroled  and  al- 
lowed to  pursue  his  way,  but  without  the  assistance 
of  the  old  horse,  which  was  "^confiscated."  After 
various  adventures  he  reached,  one  night,  the  home 
of  his  old  friend,  Mr.  Alexander  Kobertson,  near  the 
present  village  of  Arden.  There  he  was  cordially 
received  and  his  anxiety  relieved  by  news  of  his  fani- 
ilv's  safetv.  At  davlight  the  next  morning,  after  a 
breakfast  of  corn  bread  and  milk,  all  that  this  once 
wealthy  gentleman  had  to  offer,  he  was  speeded  on 
his  way,  ^Ir.  Robertson  walking  some  distance  with 
him  to  guide  him  through  the  woods  to  escajjc  the 
lawless  bands  of  pillagers  from  the  Federal  army, 
which  were  infesting  the  roads.  When  Mr.  Kobert- 
son returned  it  was  to  see  lying  on  the  road  side  the 
dead  body  of  his  son-in-law,  Capt.  Allen,  a  gallant 
soldier,  but  now  surrendered  and  paroled.  He  had 
been  shot  down  without  provocation,  by  the  very 
men  from  whom  Capt.  Patton  had  escaped  by  Mr. 
Robertson's  thoughtful  care. 

Thus  he  made  his  way  back  to  his  once  hapi)y 
home  to  find  poverty  where  once  had  been  wealth, 
devastation  where  once  had  been  prosperity ;  his 
father's  house  occupied  by  the  Federal  troops,  and 
his  widowed  mother,  his  young  wife  and  sister  and 
his  aunt  taking  refuge  with  friends  scarcely  less  des- 
titute than  themselves,  and  fed  by  faithful  negroes 

14 


with  provisions  concealed  bj  them  from  the  ravages 
of  ''the  Yankees." 

In  1S(3G  Capt.  Patton  determined  to  seek  his  for- 
tune on  a  cotton  plantation  in  Alabama,  given  to  his 
wife  by  her  aunt's  husband,  Col.  Croom  of  Greens- 
boro, and  adjoining  one  owned  by  his  father's  estate. 
Cotton  was  selling  very  high  at  that  time,  and  he 
hoped  to  make  a   living  for  those  dependent  up(m 
him.    I>ut  this  move  proved  disastrous.    He  found  it 
impossible  to  control  strange  negroes  in  those  dread- 
ful reconstruction  times,  the  crop  was  a  failure,  his 
wife  died,  followed  soon  by  the  last  little  child,  and 
he  became  such  a  victom  to  malaria  that  his  health, 
which  had  withstood  all  the  hardships  of  camp  life, 
was  completely  wrecked.     It  is  characteristic  of  the 
man  that  although  he  received  a  handsome  otfer  for 
the  plantation  which  he  had  inherited  from  his  wife 
through   his   child,   he   gave   the   place  back   to   the 
Croom  family   (Col.  Croom  was  then  dead),  and  re- 
turned to  Asheville  without  a  dollar.    Here  he  went 
to  work  vigorously,  in  spite  of  wretched  health,  to 
build  up  a  mercantile  business  in  partnership  with 
his  father's  old  friend,  Mr.   Albert   Sumniey.     But 
the  settlement  of  his  father's  estate  demanded  most 
of  his  time  and  attention.     Owing  to  the  death  of 
his  two  older  brothers,  this  large  and  complicated 
business  was  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Nicholas  Woodfln, 
his   father's   life-time   friend.     Mr.   Woodfin   was   a 
brilliant  criminal  lawyer  and  a  man  of  the  highest 
personal  integrity,  but  he  was  not  able  to  cope  with 
the  difficulties  of  the  situation  alone  and  required  the 

15 


aid  of  a  younger  man.  "By  the  self-sacrficing  labors 
of  Thomas  Patton  every  debt  was  paid  and  no  one 
suffered  by  reason  of  his,  or  her,  confidence  in  the 
integrity  of  James  W.  Patton,  a  name  that  will  be 
honored  in  Buncombe  county  long  after  his  children 
and  children's  children  have  gone  to  their  reward. 
But  this  gratifying  result  could  only  be  brought 
about  by  the  voluntary  surrender  by  his  children  of 
all  interest  in  his  estate.  To  them  the  good  name  of 
their  father  was  more  precious  than  riches,  'yea, 
than  much  fine  gold.'  " 

In  April,  1871,  Capt.  Patton  married  Martha  Bell 
Turner,  a  daughter  of  James  Calder  Turner,  a  dis- 
tinguished civil  engineer  from  whose  plans  and  un- 
der whose  directions  the  railroad  between  Asheville 
and  Salisbury  was  constructed.  Of  this  most  happy 
union  two  children  were  born,  Josie  Buel,  married 
to  Haywood  Parker,  and  Francis  McLeod,  a  forester 
in  the  United  States  government  service. 

In  1867  Thomas  Patton  advised  his  mother  to  ex- 
change her  dower  interest  in  the  estate  of  his  father 
for  a  fee  simple  title  to  a  piece  of  unimproved  land 
known  as  Camp  Patton  (it  having  been  used  by  both 
the  Confederate  and  Federal  troops).  On  this  land 
he  built  the  house  at  what  is  now  the  corner  of 
Chestnut  and  Charlotte  streets.  In  this  house  his 
children  and  grand-children  have  been  born  and  he 
continued  to  occupy  it  for  thirty-eight  years,  until 
his  death.  It  appealed  to  the  romantic  side  of  his 
nature  that  his  grand-children  should  occupy  a  piece 

16 


of  ground  which  had  never  passed  out  of  the  family 
since  his  grandfather  purchased  it  in  1806, 

Baptized  in  infancy  bv  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barnwell,  of 
South  Carolina,  he  remained  all  his  life  "a  faithful 
soldier  and  servant''  of  his  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Thomas  Patton's  high  standard  of  personal  integ- 
rity and  unselfish  devotion  to  the  best  interests  of 
those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact  as  friend  or  as 
fellow-citizen,  was  due  not  only  to  inherited  quali- 
ties, but  to  deep  religious  principle. 

James  W.  Patton,  his  father,  while  most  generous 
and  indulgent  to  his  children,  demanded  unques- 
tioned obedience  in  certain  things.  One  of  these  was 
prompt  and  regular  attendance  upon  public  worship, 
and  it  was  one  of  the  things  for  which  his  children 
afterwards  rose  up  and  called  him  blessed.  This 
habit  was  one  his  son  never  lost  and  wherever  he 
was, and  under  whatever  circumstances  he  found  him- 
self when  Sunday  came,  he  always  betook  himself  to 
some  house  of  God.  Confirmed  by  Bishop  Cobb  in 
Alabama  during  the  war,  upon  his  return  to  Ashe- 
ville,  he  threw  himself  with  zeal  into  the  life  of 
Trinity  Parish — the  parish  his  parents  and  aunt  had 
founded.  In  1867  we  find  him  in  attendance  upon 
the  Diocesan  Convention  in  Wilmington  and  during 
the  rest  of  his  life  there  were  few  of  these  annual 
meetings  he  failed  to  attend.  Licensed  as  lay  reader 
by  Bishop  Atkinson  in  1867,  he  did  faithful  and  most 
acceptable  service  in  Trinity  and  the  missions  sur- 
rounding, especially  those  at  Haw  Creek  and  Beaver 
Dam.    As  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  ves- 

17 


tryman  and  warden,  he  was  ever  a  true  pillar  of  the 
church.  Inwriting  of  him  a  friend  says:  "He  is  neither 
high  church  nor  low  church,  but  tolerant  of  both 
factions.  It  makes  no  difference  to  him  what  colors 
are  used  on  the  altar  or  whether  there  are  flowers  or 
crosses,  or  whether  there  are  genuflections  at  certain 
places  in  the  liturgy  or  not.  Whatever  forms  or  cer- 
emonies best  enable  a  man  or  woman  to  express  his 
or  her  worship  of  the  Heavenly  Father  is,  in  his 
opinion,  the  best  for  that  worshipper.  If  the  Rector 
faces  east  during  the  recital  of  the  creed  or  remains 
with  his  side  face  to  the  congregation  it  matters  not 
to  Capt.  Patton.  If  a  communicant  kneels  and  de- 
voutly crosses  himself  before  the  service  or  bends  the 
knee  at  the  mention  of  the  name  of  our  Saviour, 
Capt.  Patton  respects  the  motive  which  prompts  the 
outward  expression  of  faith  and  devotion,  and  calmly 
continues  his  worship  in  his  own  way."  A  personal 
love  and  loyalty  to  his  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,  was 
the  guiding  principle  of  his  life  and  as  far  as  in  him 
lay  he  followed  the  footsteps  of  the  Master. 

Every  charitable  undertaking  found  in  him  a 
ready  helper.  When  it  was  found  best  that  the 
Asheville  Mission  Hospital  should  have  a  local  habi- 
tation of  its  own,  he,  with  his  friend  Lawrence  Pul- 
liam,  bought  the  property  now  owned  by  that  insti- 
tution at  the  corner  of  Charlotte  and  Woodfin 
streets,  making  himself  personally  responsible  for 
the  purchase  money  which  he  borrowed  from  per- 
sonal friends.  He  continued  a  valued  advisor  of  the 
hospital  board  ever  afterwards.    From  its  inception 

18 


he  was  a  member  of  the  committee  in  charge  of  the 
Buncombe  County  Children's  Home,  and  gave  valu- 
able services  in  finding  homes  for,  and  afterwards 
keeping  in  touch  with  these  helpless  little  wards  of 
the  county;  and  this  was  done  no  less  faithfully  and 
wisely  for  the  colored  children  than  for  the  white. 

He  was  the  first  to  suggest  the  establishment  here 
of  a  home  where  erring  and  fallen  girls  could  go  and 
by  gentle  and  loving  care  be  brought  back  to  the 
paths  of  virtuous  womanhood,  and  he  ever  afterwards 
aided  the  enterprise  by  his  means  and  helpful  advice. 
He  assisted  in  the  establishment  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
to  which  he  was  a  liberal  subscriber,  and  of  which 
he  was  a  director.  He  made  it  possible  to  begin  the 
work  of  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  in  opening  a  boarding  house 
for  self-suporting  women.  Through  his  generosity 
the  Library  Association  became  possessed  of  its  valu- 
able property  on  Church  street.  It  is  not  too  much 
to  say  that  every  philanthropic  enterprise  in  Ashe- 
ville  largely  owes  its  being  to  his  broad  sympathy 
and  wise  care.  While  devoted  to  his  own  church,  his 
heart  was  big  enough  to  take  in  all  good  work  don.e 
by  Christians  of  every  name.  He  was  a  valued  ad- 
visor in  the  noble  educational  work  done  by  the  Pres- 
byterians. His  office  was  the  Mecca  towards  which 
turned  the  steps  of  all  those  Avho  were  doing  the 
Master's  service  and  also  all  those  who  were  weary 
and  heavy  laden — the  sinful  and  the  sorrowing.  He 
was  not  content  to  pray  for  those  in  prison,  but  gave 
much  time  to  visiting  the  jails  and  his  wisdom  and 
kindness  were  manifest  in  the  fact  that  he  was  the 

19 


friend  and  advisor  of  the  jailors  no  less  than  the 
prisoners.  The  condition  of  the  Federal  prisoners 
engaged  his  helpful  aid  in  large  measure.  Men,  ar- 
rested on  vague  suspicion  of  violating  the  revenue 
laws — laws  they  neither  knew  nor  could  understand, 
brought  away  from  their  families  whose  sole  support 
they  were,  and  herded  in  over-crowded  jails  to  wait 
long  months  for  trial,  touched  him  deeply.  He  not 
only  exerted  his  influence  with  the  Federal  judges  to 
prevent  the  unsanitary  crowding,  but  by  painstaking 
investigation  he  obtained  the  release  upon  bond  of 
many  of  these  poor  men.  Nothing  gave  him  more 
pleasure  than  to  tell  of  the  numbers  of  men  upon 
whose  bond  he  had  gone  who  came  back  for  trial, 
walking  many  weary  miles  over  the  mountains  to 
give  themselves  up  that  'the  Captain"  should  sufl'er 
no  loss  through  them.  For  many  years  a  portion  of 
every  Sunday  was  spent  at  the  jails  and  convict 
camp,  distributing  newspapers  and  magazines  and 
taking  notes  for  letters  which  he  would  afterwards 
write  to  friends  of  these  unfortunates. 

When  elected  county  commissioner  in  1878,  he 
made  it  his  first  duty  to  visit  the  county  paupers, 
whom  he  found  '^farmed  out"  to  the  lowest  bidder 
and  living  in  huts  far  from  a  public  road  or  any  pos- 
sibility of  public  inspection.  This  was  at  once 
changed,  and  with  the  aid  of  his  friend  Mr.  Pease, 
he  had  the  paupers  moved  into  new  and  sanitary 
quarters  near  town  where  they  were  visited  by  him- 
self and  other  kind  friends.  Nothing  could  be 
more  touching  than  to  see  the  eager  joy  which  would 

20 


light  up  the  faces  of  these  waifs  and  strays  of  hu- 
manity when  ''The  Captain''  was  seen  coming  Avith 
pockets  bulging  with  gifts  of  tobacco,  knitting  yarn 
and  sewing  materials— each  one  remembered,  and  a 
gift  for  each  to  brighten  the  weary  days. 

While  never  a  prohibitionist,  he  was  the  friend 
and  advisor  of  the  good  women  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U. 
He  endeavored  to  be  strictly  temperate  in  all  things 
and  while  not  hesitating  to  offer  a  glass  of  wine  or 
spirits  to  a  friend  whose  habits  he  knew  prevented 
its  being  a  temptation,  he  strictly  forbade  its  ap- 
pearance in  his  house  on  general  gatherings.  Sev- 
eral habitual  drunkards  owe  their  reformation  to  his 
patient,  perservering  love  and  help. 

That   there   has   been   no   manifestation   of   race 
prejudice  in  this  section  is  largely  due  to  Capt.  Pat- 
ton's  influence.     A  slave-owner  himself  and  the  son 
of  slave-owners,  he  understood  the  negro  character 
perfectly,  and  his  attitude  towards  them  was  that  of 
the  kindly  consideration  of  the  olden  time.     He  ap- 
preciated their  good  qualities  Avhile  recognizing  their 
limitations  and  the  negroes  knew  him  to  be  their 
friend  and  trusted  him.    They  served  him  with  fidel- 
ity and  mourned  him  with  deep  sincerity.     He  not 
only  treated  them  with  justice  himself,  but  saw  to  it 
that  others  did  so  as  well.    His  sense  of  the  obliga- 
tion of  the  "privileged  classes"  to  those  less  privi- 
leged was  so  great  that  any  oppression  or  tyranny  of 
the  strong  over  the  weak  aroused  his  hot  indignation. 
It  Avas  said  of  him  that  ''he  chose  to  live  beside  the 
road  that  he  might  help  his  fellow  man." 

21 


Mr.  Patton  was  frequently  honored  by  the  suf- 
frages of  his  fellow  citizens,  having  been  elected  al- 
derman, tax  collector,  county  commissioner,  mayor; 
and  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  tax  commis- 
sion, of  the  State  Board  of  Charities  and  Corrections, 
and  of  the  Board  of  Examiners  of  Institutions.  He 
was  secretary-treasurer  of  the  first  water,  gas,  elec- 
tric light  and  street  railway  companies  in  Asheville. 
At  one  time  he  edited  and  controlled  ''The  Citizen ;'' 
was  superintendent  of  the  Street  Railway  Co.,  and 
was  director  in  several  banks.  He  was  guardian  of 
many  minors  and  administrator  of  several  estates. 
On  two  occasions  estates  were  willed  to  him  without 
any  restrictions  and  in  both  cases  they  were  admin- 
istered so  entirely  for  the  best  interests  of  the  legal 
heirs  as  to  secure  not  only  their  entire  content,  but 
their  lasting  gratitude.  *  ''His  business  judgment 
seemed  unerring,  and  he  is  reckoned  as  the  ablest 
financier  who  has  ever  made  his  home  in  our  city." 

Capt.  Patton  was  never  a  imrtizan  in  politics. 
When  the  war  was  over  he  cast  in  his  fortunes  with 
the  Democratic  party  in  general  poltics,  but  when 
the  men  or  measures  advocated  by  that  party  seemed 
to  him  not  the  best,  he  never  hesitated  to  vote  as  his 
conscience  dictated.  In  the  best  sense  of  the  word 
he  was  an  independent  citizen.  When,  in  189o,  he 
considered  that  the  city  administration  was  extrava- 
gant, if  not  actually  corrupt,  he  did  not  hesitate  one 


'^TJiis  icas  said  of  him  hy  the  prominent  business  men  of 
the  city  tcho  were  familiar  tcith  liis  icork  at  this  period. 

22 


instant,  but  declared  himself  an  independent  candi- 
date for  mayor.  He  Avas  overwhelmingly  elected, 
and  gave  the  city  an  administration  that  for  econ- 
omy, honest}',  progressiveness  and  efficiency  has 
never  been  equalled.  He  reduced  expenses  b}'  one- 
half  without  in  the  least  diminishing  the  efficiency'  of 
the  public  service.  The  streets  were  cleaner,  the  po- 
lice more  active,  the  accounts  more  accurately  kept 
and  the  property  of  the  city  more  carefully  guarded 
and  protected  than  ever  before.  He  had  a  new  city 
charter  prepared  w^hich  w^as  granted  by  the  Legisla- 
ture and  is  a  model  of  its  kind.  He  had  an  inventory 
made  of  all  city  property,  and  held  the  head  of  each 
department  responsible  for  its  safe-keeping.  He  had 
all  the  floating  debts  carefully  investigated  and  ac- 
curately determined.  He  closed  up  as  far  as  possible 
all  pending  litigation,  and  so  systematized  and  ar- 
ranged all  the  finances  of  the  city  affairs  that  any 
citizen  could  determine,  at  a  glance,  not  only  the 
cit3''s  expenses,  but  its  liabilities  and  its  income  from 
all  sources.  So  well  satisfied  were  the  citizens  gen- 
erallj'  with  his  first  administration  that  thej-  gave 
him  a  second  term  almost  unanimously.  Captain 
Patton's  comj)ensation  for  the  services  that  were 
worth  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  to  Asheville, 
was  a  little  less  than  eighty-one  cents  per  diem ! 

In  keeping  with  his  belief  that  the  wa^'  to  secure 
temperance  and  morality  is  not  only  by  education 
and  public  sentiment,  but  by  personal  influence, 
when  nearly  three  score  years  of  age  and  just  thirty- 
seven  years  after  he  enlisted  in  the  1st  N.  C.  Volun- 

23 


teers  for  the  Civil  War,  he  enlisted  in  the  1st  N.  O. 
Volunteers  for  the  War  with  Spain.  This  was  in 
A])ril,  1898,  the  first  enlistment  having  been  in 
April,  1801,  and  by  a  curious  coincidence  he  left 
Asheville  on  both  occasions  on  the  same  day  of  the 
same  month.  Then  he  Avore  the  gray-  and  marched 
under  the  stars  and  bars  of  the  Southern  Confeder- 
acy, now  he  wore  the  blue  and  marched  under  the 
stars  and  stripes  of  the  United  States ;  but  on  both 
occasions  he  went  as  a  private  in  the  ranks. 

In  Raleigh  he  was  commissioned  by  Governor 
Russell,  adjutant  of  a  battalion  in  the  1st  N.  C.  regi- 
ment. In  this  office  he  served  a  year,  a  considerable 
portion  of  which  time  was  spent  Avith  his  regiment 
near  Havana.  Just  as  the  1st  N.  C.  regiment  fought 
the  first  battle  of  the  Civil  War,  so  it  Avas  the  first  to 
occupy  Havana  in  the  Spanish- American  War.  But 
there  the  parallel  ends.  In  the  Civil  War  he  volun- 
teered in  defense  of  his  native  State  to  which  he  had 
been  taught  his  first  allegiance  Avas  due.  While  in  the 
Spanish  Avar  he  Aolunteered  to  be  Avith  the  young- 
men  Avho  AA^ere  about  to  subject  themselves  to  the  pri- 
vations and  temptations  of  a  life  in  camp,  and,  as  he 
feared,  on  the  field  of  battle.  He  did  not  delude  him- 
self with  the  belief  that  his  countrA^  needed  his  ser- 
vices as  a  mere  soldier,  AA'ith  SAVord  or  rifie,  but  he 
did  believe  that  his  experience  in  camp  and  battle 
could  be  made  beneficial  to  the  young  men  of  his  na- 
tive city.  This  is  the  Avhole  story.  He  AA^ent  Avith  this 
object  in  vieAv  and  he  never  lost  sight  of  it  for  a 
single  instant. 

24 


That  lie  was  a  prime  favorite  with  the  officers  of 
the  entire  regiment  and  will  always  hold  a  warm 
place  in  the  hearts  of  the  members  of  Company  F. 
(of  Ashevillej,  with  whom  he  was  especially  popu- 
lar, is  strong-  proof  that  he  had  ample  opportunity  to 
make  his  influence  and  example  felt;  and,  whether 
he  failed  or  not,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  he  strove  for  the  realization  of  a  high  ideal. 

There    are    still    living    private    soldiers    of    old 
Company  C.  of  the  Civil  War  period  who  will  tell 
you  that  although  Capt.  Patton  was  not  required  to 
bear  a  musket  on  the  long  and  dreary  marches,  he 
was  never  seen  without  one  at  least,  on  his  shoulder, 
and  often  two  or  three.    They  were  not  his  muskets, 
but  those  of  half  sick  and  wholly  weary  comrades 
who  were  too  weak  to  stagger  along  under  the  weight 
of  blanket,  haversack  and  canteen.     And  there  are 
young  privates  of  Company  F.  of  the  Spanish-Amer- 
ican war  period  who  will  tell  you  similar  tales  with 
regard  to  themselves.    And  there  are  others  who  will 
tell  you  that  when  they  learned  the  reason  that  im- 
pelled this  war-worn  veteran  to  enlist  as  a  private 
soldier  Avhen  nearly  three  score  years  of  age,  they 
determined  that  they  would  show  by  their  conduct 
that  they  were  not  unmindful  of  his  unselfish  sacri- 
fice in  their  behalf  and  they  shaped  their  lives  in  ac- 
cordance with  what  they  believed  he  would  approve. 
They  have  no  doubt  that  his  last  enlistment  in  the 
cause  of  humanity  and  true  manhood  was  more  po- 
tent for  good,  though  no  blood  was  shed  by  the  1st 

25 


N.  C,  than  his  first  enlistment,  when  blood  flowed 
like  water  from  Bethel  to  Bentonville. 

Not  limiting  his  interests  to  the  men  of  his  own 
regiment,  his  tent  was  headquarters  for  the  members 
of  The  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew  of  the  entire 
army.  Himself  a  devoted  Brotherhood  man,  he  ex- 
tended a  loving  hand  to  all. 

Upon  the  termination  of  the  Spanish-American 
war  he  returned  to  Asheville,  where  he  was  received 
with  every  demonstration  of  atfectionate  gratitude 
by  the  parents  of  ''his  boys"  and  the  citizens  gener- 
ally. At  a  banquet  given  the  returned  soldiers  he 
was  presented  with  a  massive  and  beautiful  silver 
loving  cup. 

Among  the  few  luxuries  Captain  Patton  allowed 
himself  Avas  that  of  travel.  He  was  keenly  interested 
in  new  conditions  and  new  countries.  His  bright  in- 
telligence led  him  to  understand  that  human  natur'3 
is  ever  the  same  and  it  is  only  controlling  influences 
that  make  the  difl'erences  in  peoples.  With  an  in- 
tense appreciation  of  the  beauties  of  nature,  fed  by 
his  life  in  the  mountains,  he  greatly  enjoyed  h's 
visits  to  different  sections  of  his  own  country  and  of 
Europe.  He  crossed  the  Atlantic  twice ;  first  with  a 
party  of  friends  in  1888  and  again,  taking  his  family 
with  him,  in  1802.  On  both  occasions  his  letters  were 
published  in  the  city  papers  and  enjoyed  by  his  manv 
friends  at  home. 

He  Avas  a  man  who  cared  little  for  wealth  and 
nothing  at  all  for  the  prestige  wealth  can  give.  He 
w^as  content  to  give  his  family  every  comfort  and 

26 


convenience  for  their  simple  way  of  living  and  his 
house  was  always  open  to  visitors  of  every  -^lass. 
His  old  war  comrades  and  friends  from  the  coves  of 
the  mountains  were  just  as  Avelcome  and  received 
with  even  greater  consideration  than  the  many  dis- 
tinguished men  from  the  different  sections  of  Jiis 
own  country  and  of  England,  w^ho  enjoyed  his  cor 
dial  hospitality.  He  chose  his  friends  entirely  lor 
Avhat  they  were,  and  not  for  what  they  possessed. 

In  general  Capt.  Patton  enjoyed  excellent  health, 
due  doubtless  no  less  to  his  varied  interests  than  to 
his  simple  habits  and  constant  exercise  in  the  open 
air.  But  in  1901  he  met  with  an  accident,  while  sur- 
veying land  on  the  side  of  the  mountain,  which  re 
suited  in  a  violent  attack  of  blood  poison.  Only  by 
the  devoted  and  skillful  services  of  his  friend  and 
physician.  Dr.  W.  D.  Hilliard,  were  his  life  and  liicb 
saved ;  but  the  illness  sapped  his  strength  and  lie  was 
never  so  well  again.  The  last  winters  of  his  life  were 
spent  in  Florida.  In  1901  he  purchased  a  home  in 
Dunedin  on  the  Gulf  coast  and  to  this  he  took  his 
family  to  avoid  the  cold  of  winter  in  the  mountains, 
and  to  this  home  he  welcomed  his  friends  with  the 
same  open-handed  hospitality.  Although  only  among 
them  a  few  months  of  a  few  years,  the  friends  lie 
made  in  Florida  mourn  him  as  sincerely  as  those  in 
North  Carolina. 

Unexpectedly,  at  last  came  the  summons,  "Well 
done,  good  and  faithful  servant;  enter  thou  into  the 
joy  of  thy  Lord." 

In  October,   1907,   an  acute  illness  set  in,   and 

27 


when  this  did  not  yield  to  treatment,  it  was  deter- 
mined to  take  him  to  Philadelphia  to  secure  the  ser- 
vices of  a  celebrated  specialist.  He  was  accompan- 
ied by  his  devoted  wife  and  physician,  and  joined  in 
Philadelphia  by  his  son  who  was  then  taking  a  post 
graduate  course  at  Yale  University.  Put  human 
skill  was  of  no  avail,  and  this  servant  of  God  was 
called  to  go  up  higher,  before  the  infirmities  of  age 
had  lessened  his  activities  or  weakened  his  powers.- 
The  end,  which  came  November  Gth,  was  such  as 
befitted  his  life — calm,  clear  and  happily  contented, 
and  with  the  ministrations  of  his  beloved  church. 
Far  from  his  own  people,  it  was  given  to  him  to  re- 
ceive for  his  last  journey  the  strengthening  bread 
and  wine  at  the  gentle  hand  of  a  Southern  gentle- 
man, the  Rev.  J.  Henning  Xelms. 

He  was  brought  back  to  his  mountain  home  and 
met  at  the  station  in  Asheville  by  the  city  officials, 
and  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  as  well  as  his  two 
dearly  loved  friends,  the  Rev.  McXeely  DuBose,  and 
the  Rev.  Alexander  Mitchell,  with  others,  who  had 
come  long  distances  to  look  once  more  upon  his  face. 

Carried  to  his  house  he  rested  there  embowered 
in  lovely  ftowers  and  surrounded  by  friends  who 
came  to  do  him  reverence.  The  next  day  he  was 
borne  to  the  church  he  had  loved  and  served  so  faith- 
fully and  thence  to  Riverside  cemetery,  which  he  had 
been  instrumental  in  planning  and  beautifying.  As 
his  sympathies  had  known  no  distinctions  of  race, 
color  or  class,  so  the  outburst  of  grief  was  universal, 
and  one  looking  into  the  faces  of  the  throngs  which 

28 


lined  the  streets  and  crow^ded  round  the  chnrch, 
could  see  that  no  idle  curiosit}',  but  deepest  love  and 
grief  had  brought  them  there. 

Every  mark  of  public  respect  was  shown.  The 
I/nited  States  District  Court,  which  was  in  session 
at  the  time,  was  adjourned  after  eloquent  and  feeling 
remarks  upon  the  public  services  of  Mr.  Patton  by 
the  presiding  judge,  Hon.  James  E.  Boyd.  A  special 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  was  held,  and 
every  city  official  requested  to  attend  the  funeral, 
Avhile  the  city  bell  was  ordered  to  be  tolled.  Stores 
were  closed  and  all  business  suspended  during  the 
funeral.  The  gray-headed  veterans  of  the  Great  War 
as  well  as  the  vigorous  young  manhood  of  the  War 
with  Spain,  folloAved  his  bier.  The  funeral  services 
were  conducted  by  Bishop  Horner  and  the  Reverends 
McCready,  DuBose,  Mitchell,  Stubbs  and  Swope. 
The  hymns,  which  were  sung  as  with  one  voice  by  the 
large  congregation,  were  636,  ''How  Firm  a  Founda- 
tion, Ye  Saints  of  the  Lord,"  and  398,  ''Ten  Thousand 
Times  Ten  Thousand,''  giving  the  note  of  trium})hant 
joy  so  appropriate  to  this  saint  who  had  entered  into 
his  re  Avar  d. 

At  the  cemetery  Mr.  DuBose  read  the  committal 
and  afterwards  was  sung  the  Gloria  in  Excelsis  and 
hymn  679,  "There  is  a  Blessed  Home,''  while  the 
flower-covered  casket  was  slowly  lowered  by  loving 
hands  into  the  flower-lined  grave.  And  so,  with  the 
soft  sunshine  falling  over  him  like  God's  benedic- 
tion, and  the  blue  hills  standing  sentinel  around,  we 
left  him  in  the  blessed  hope  of  a  joyful  resurrection. 

29 


lEMtorials  from  tbe  CitY>  papers  ot  IRovember 

6tb,  1907, 

THOMAS  WALTON  PATTOX. 

The  city  today  mourns  the  loss  of  one  of  her  best  beloved 
sons.  The  people  sorrow  because  a  friend,  every  one's  friend, 
has  passed  into  the  great,  mysterious  beyond ;  whose  form  no 
longer  will  be  seen  amongst  us,  whose  affectionate  counsel 
will  no  longer  be  heard. 

The  mission  of  Thomas  Patton  on  earth,  as  he  saw  it.  was 
to  help.  His  interest,  for  many  years  past,  at  any  rate,  was 
mainly  in  the  affairs  of  those  who  needed  help  the  worst. 
How  many  a  story  of  trouble  has  been  poured  into  his  sym- 
pathetic ear ;  how  many,  in  sorrow,  in  distress  of  body  or 
mind,  have  gone  to  him  as  a  wise  and  sympathetic  brother, 
certain  to  receive  aid  and  comfort!  His  was  a  practical 
pliilanthropy.  The  most  intelligent  methods  of  administer- 
ing charity  and  the  corrective  measures  of  the  state — these 
problems  altsorbed  much  of  his  time  and  energy.  Although 
possessing  a  heart  ever  open  to  human  need,  he  could  not  be 
called  a  sentimentalist.  He  was  a  conservative.  He  was 
never  one  to  join  a  hue  and  cry ;  when  there  was  neglect, 
wrong  or  injustice  it  was  his  way  to  set  about  a  careful  in- 
vestigation of  the  underlying  causes.  His  benefactories  were 
not  spectacular ;  they  were  quiet,  practical,  effective. 

Being  keenly  interested  in  his  fellow  man.  and  all  that 
pertained  to  his  welfare  and  progress,  it  followed  that  he 
was  interested  in  public  affairs.  On  questions  of  the  day 
his  position  was  often  uni(iue ;  it  occurred,  not  .seldom,  that 
he  found  popular  opinion  arrayed  against  him.  He  did  not 
seek  or  love  such  antagonisms.  l)ut  his  own  position  was 
never  affected  thereby.  In  serenity  and  dignity  he  pursued 
his  way  toward  the  ideals  that  seemed  to  him  best. 

30 


The  secret,  if  secret  it  may  be  called,  of  the  blessed  influ- 
ence exerted  by  his  life,  and  the  real  affection  and  esteem 
in  which  he  ^Yas  held  was  that  he  loved  his  country,  his  city, 
his  neighbors  with  a  true,  unselfish,  ennobling  affection.  And 
what  man  has  ever  occupied  just  such  a  place  as  he  occupied 
in  the  hearts  of  the  people  of  Asheville? 

He  has  fought  a  good  fight.  He  kept  the  faith.  He  lived 
a  life  in  accordance  with  its  own  highest  conceptions.  He 
was  a  compass  that  pointed  true.  His  thoughts,  his  labors 
were  for  God  and  humanity.— Fro »i  Gazette-Xeics. 

T.  W.  PATTON. 

Capt.  T.  W.  Patton  is  dead,  and  in  his  passing  the  famil- 
iar figure  of  half  a  century  is  removed  from  Asheville.  His 
departure  calls  sharply  to  mind  the  fact  that  our  old  land- 
marks are  going,  and  the  pioneers  who  made  a  glorious  city 
out  of  the  wilderness  leave  us  one  by  one.  And  in  these 
messages  of  death  there  is  brought  the  sad  knowledge  that 
the  places  of  these  men  can  never  again  be  fille<l,  for  the 
reason  that  the  city  which  they  builded  will  never  again  be 
called  upon  to  encounter  the  trials,  tribulations  and  dangers 
which  they  so  successfully  surmounted.  The  grave  questions 
of  the  community  which  Mr.  Patton  and  those  of  his  time, 
who  advanced  with  him  step  by  step,  were  those  questions 
upon  which  the  life  and  future  of  a  city  depend,  and  having 
accomplished  their  work  triumphantly,  there  is  nothing  left 
for  us  who  follow  them  to  do  but  to  perpetuate  their  deeds 
and  to  keep  their  memories  enshrined  in  our  hearts. 

Capt.  T.  W.  Patton,  citizen,  soldier  and  gentleman,  is  no 
more,  but  he  leaves  behind  him  the  impress  of  a  man  at  all 
times  fearless,  and  seeking  favors  from  none;  a  man  whose 
political  views  were  not  of  that  nature  which  are  allied  to 
passing  waves  and  only  winning  issues ;  he  was  a  man  who 
had  ideas  and  convictions  of  his  own,  and  once  having  ar- 
rayed himself  on  the  side  of  a  cause  which  he  believed  to  be 
right,  no  power  or  consideration  could  move  him.  Asheville 
indeed  is  poorer,  much  poorer,  by  his  death. 

31 


And  now  be  is  gone.  By  the  young  citizen  soldiers  in 
whose  company  he  shared  the  deprivations  and  difficulties 
incidental  to  military  life  he  will  be  sadly  missed,  and  to 
that  great  body  of  citizenslii])  which  forms  the  vital  part  of 
a  municipality  his  loss  will  be  irreparalde. — From  Hie 
Citizen. 


]£xtract5  from  a  few  of  tbe  1Rumerou5  Xetters 
IRcceiveb  b^  tbe  jfamili^ 

From  Rev.  R.  F.  Campbell,  D.  D.,  Pastor  of  First  Preshyte- 
rian  Clinreli  of  AshevUle: 

I  cannot  let  this  occasion  pass  without  some  expression 
of  my  esteem  for  your  lamented  husband  and  of  my  sym- 
pathy with  those  who  long  for  the  "touch  of  a  vanished  hand 
and  the  sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still  I" 

Take  him  for  all  in  all,  Capt.  Patton  was  the  first  citizen 
of  Asheville — an  eminence  which  he  securely  held,  because, 
perhaps,  above  all  others  he  loved  the  city  passionately,  as 
men  love  mother  and  home.  Asheville  was  both  these  to 
him,  born  as  he  was  in  her  lap  and  happiest  under  her  roof- 
tree.  As  his  mother  she  bends  over  his  bier,  and  we,  his 
brothers,  feel  that  much  of  the  light  that  led  us  and  much 
of  the  strength  on  which  we  leaned  are  gone  out  with  him. 

Will  you  let  me  say — for  my  heart  desires  to  speak  the 
words— that  I  admired  and  loved  him,  especially  for  two 
great  characteristics  he  possessed — his  lion-hearted  courage 
and  his  almost  womanly  tenderness.  "That  gentleness  which 
when  it  weds  with  manhood  makes  a  nnm."  I  could  not  al- 
ways agree  with  him.  but  I  could  never  withhold  my  respect 
for  his  absolute  independence  of  thought,  and  my  lu-ofound 
admiration  for  his  utter  fearlessness  of  speech.  The  two 
were  linked  together  as  body  and  soul — untranuneled  con- 
victions clothed  upon  with  words  always  courteous  but  never 
cringing  in  which  was  "strength  which  mates  with  cour- 
tesy." 

32 


The  other  quality  was  his  great-heartedness,  his  tender 
sympathy,  whicli  reached  out  wide  and  gentle  arms  to  the 
suffering  and  the  sorrowing,  especially  those  who  suffer  in 
shame  and  sorrow  in  obscurity — the  despised  and  neglected 
classes  of  society. 

These  two  characteristics,  apparently  so  opposed,  are  the 
two  halves  which,  fitted  together,  make  a  rounded  manhood, 
a  complete  citizenship. 

Asheville,  November  8,  1907. 

Rt.  Rev.  J.  B.  Cheshire,  D.  D.   {after  expressions  of  regret 
at  not  being  ahle  to  come  to  the  funeral)  : 

I  think  I  have  known  no  man  more  disinterestedly  de- 
voted to  the  welfare  of  others.  He  is  a  great  loss  to  the 
Church,  and  a  great  loss  to  the  State.  We  have  few  such 
Churchmen  or  such  citizens,  and  I  am  sure  you  can  say,  few 
such  fathers  or  fathers-in-law. 

Rt.  Rev.  Robert  Strange,  D.  D.  : 

Though  I  saw  him  so  seldom  it  was  a  satisfaction  to 
think  that  we  were  living  in  the  same  State.  What  a  noble 
man  he  was !  And  how  I  esteemed  his  love  and  friendship ! 
I  wish  I  could  have  been  with  j'ou  at  that  time.  Oh,  my 
dear  lady,  what  now  must  be  his  joy,  with  his  Lord  in  that 
bright  land  above!  Of  him  with  peculiar  emphasis  can  we 
say,  "Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord." 

Rev.    George    Summey,    D.    D.,    Pastor    First    Presbyterian 
Church,  Neiv  Orleans,  La. : 

He  was  one  of  Nature's  noblemen.  The  world  was  better 
for  his  living  in  it.     His  works  will  follow  him. 

Rev.  W.  B.  Y.  Wilkie.  Pastor  Presbyterian  Church,  Dunedin, 
Fla. : 
I  had  learned  to  love  Capt.  Patton  very  much  and  greatly 
admired  his  steadfast  Christian  character.     How  he  will  be 
missed ! 

33. 


Rev.  V.  E.  Manget,  MetJiodist  Minister  from  Marietta,  Ga. : 
The  noble  citizen,  devoted  member  of  the  Chnrch,  affec- 
tionate brother,  loving  father  and  most  tender  hnsband,  has, 
as  we  firmly  believe,  "entered  into  rest  and  his  works  do  fol- 
low him," 

Dunedin,  Fla. 

Rev.  T.  M.  N.   George,  Rector  Episcopal  Church,  Marietta, 
Ga. : 

It  is  indeed  a  privilege  to  be  brought  in  contact  with  such 
a  character  as  was  his,  for  there  are  not  many  such  in  this 
world.  Strength  and  gentleness,  simplicity  and  wisdom 
mercy  and  truth  were  mingled  in  unusual  and  beautiful  pro- 
portions in  his  life.  It  is  a  great  blessing  in  the  loss  of  our 
loved  ones  to  be  able  to  thank  God  for  the  wonderful  grace 
and  virtue  declared  in  their  lives. 

Rev.  W.  T.  Capers,  Former  Rector  of  Trinity  Church  : 

My  first  impulse  was  to  go  at  once  to  you  and  publicly 
manifest  by  my  attendance  at  the  services,  my  deep  and  lov- 
ing appreciation  of  a  great  citizen  and  a  noble  churchman. 
Only  unavoidable  circumstances  prevented  me  from  this  in- 
tense desire. 

I  loved  and  honored  Capt.  Patton  and  regarded  him  as  a 
man  of  unusual  ability,  a  patriot,  a  friend  of  Jesus,  and,  con- 
sequently a  guardian  of  the  needy  and  distressed — a  man  of 
great  courage  and  a  friend  of  great  worth.  His  State  and 
city  are  richer  for  his  life.  There  are  those  now  living 
whose  children's  children  shall  date  the  beginning  of  their 
ancestry  to  the  man  or  woman  who  was  redeemed  through 
the  loving  kindness  of  Thomas  Walton  Patton,  a  man  of 
God. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Deal,  Episcopal  Chnrch  at  Franklin,  ]V.  C. : 

Nobly  has  the  undying  past  earned  the  rest  to  which  he 
has  gone.     We  love  him  well  enough  to  have  kept  him,  Go.l 

34 


loves  him  well  enough  to  call  him  to  peace  and  the  rest  that 
remaineth  for  the  people  of  God. 

Rev.  B.  G.  White,  Episcopal  Church  at  Jacl-sonvlUe,  Flu.: 

Looking  over  my  life  I  count  it  one  of  the  greatest  joys 
and  privileges  that  I  had  Capt.  Patton  as  my  friend.  I  have 
known  few  men  who  were  as  good  and  true  and  brave  and 
wise  as  he  was.    I  thank  God  that  I  knew  him. 

Rev.  E.  N.  Joyner,  Episcopal  Church  at  Try  on,  N.  C. : 

Long  has  he  been  to  me  one  of  the  truest,  best  of  friends 
and  brothers.  And  how  many  can  tell  you  the  same,  can  tell 
you  so  out  of  their  hearts,  for  his  heart  was  so  big  and  warm 
and  generous. 

Rev.  S.  a.  Potter,  Episcopal  Church,  Mouktoii,  Md. : 

Owing  to  my  acquaintance  with  him  while  in  Flor'da,  I 
not  only  respected  him  very  highly  indeed,  but  had  aJs(? 
genuine  love  for  him.  One  of  the  noblest  of  men  he  cer- 
tainly was — one  of  the  children  of  the  Most  High. 

Rev.  C.  M.  Gray,  Episcopal  Church  at  St.  Petershurg,  Flo. : 
We  all  loved  the  dear  man  and  he  will  be  sorely  miss'xl. 

but  only  for  a  little  while,  for  we  will  soon  follow  him  and 

be  reunited  in  the  paradise  of  God. 

Rev.  a.  B.  Hunter,  Rector  St.  Augustine.  Raleigh.  N.  C. : 
The  earth  is  richer  for  the  life  he  has  lived  and  the  life 

draws  us  nearer  to  our  heavenly  home. 

F7'om  a  (Ustinguished  British  army  officer  who  served  all 
through  the  Crimean  War  and  partly  through  the  In- 
dian Mutiny  : 

Barlow,  Derbyshire,  England. 
The  news  of  your  dear  husband's  death  contained  in  the 
paper  I  received  this  morning  has  filled  my  heart  with  grief. 

35 


For  I  can  truly  say  that  there  was  not  a  man  of  whom  I  saw 
so  little,  that  I  admired  and  respected  so  much.  *  *  *  j  ^..^^y^ 
never  forget  those  three  happy  days  in  Holland  in  1892,  and 
the  same  number  (all  too  short)  that  I  spent  under  his  hos- 
pitable roof  in  Asheville  in  1903.  *  *  *  Our  mutual  experi- 
ences of  the  hardships  and  pleasurable  excitements — I  might 
almost  call  it  delight —  of  active  army  service,  drew  us  to- 
gether and  his  participaucy  in  the  Spanish  campaign  fired 
my  old  soul. 

Mr.  James  L.  Houghteling,  Founder  of  the  BrotJierhood  of 
St.  Andrew : 

My  affection  and  respect  for  Captain  Patton  make;:?  me  a 
mourner  with  you.  He  truly  was  one  of  the  saints,  and  his 
part  in  the  world  went  away  beyond  the  sphere  of  his  per- 
sonal contact  with  his  fellow  men.  He  was  an  example  in  a 
"naughty  world,"  that  Christianity  in  its  truest,  simi)lest 
form  was  not  only  practicable  but  the  only  real  and  satis- 
fying thing  there  was.  I  doubt  not  that  hundreds  of  men 
have  kept  some  hold  of  the  faith  because  he  lived  it  in  tlieir 
midst.  So,  amidst  our  own  sorrow  and  sense  of  loss,  new 
courage  arises  to  persevere.  "Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die 
in  the  Lord." 

Mr.  Silas  McBee,  Editor  of  The  Churchman: 

Though  the  great  loss  to  you  and  yours,  to  the  Diocese 
and  to  the  State  has  not  come  to  my  knowledge  without  de- 
lay, I  must  write  now  to  say  how  deeply  I  feel  with  the 
family,  one  and  all,  in  the  grievous  loss  of  so  noble  a  life. 

Rev.  C.  E.  Jones,  Le  Mars,  Iowa: 

I  do  not  know  if  you  will  remember  my  name,  but  you 
may  when  I  say  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  while  we 
were  encamped  in  Cuba  in  1899.  *  *  *  i  shall  always  re- 
member with  gratitude  my  ac(iuaintance  with  Capt.  Patton 
and  his  kindness  to  me  which  extended  through  the  whole 

36 


of  my  service  in  the  volunteers.  I  know  I  was  only  one  of 
many  outside  his  own  regiment  to  whom  his  friendship  at 
that  time  was  of  great  value. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Reagan,  Weaverville,  N.  G. : 

Mr.  Patton  and  I  were  warm  friends  for  over  forty  years. 
He  visited  me  nearly  every  day  while  I  was  in  the  hospital 
at  Asheville,  hringing  me  fruit.  He  visited  the  criminals  in 
jail  and  took  them  something  to  read — visited  the  widows 
and  orphans  in  cold  weather  and  sent  them  fuel.  He  was 
always  ministering  to  the  needy  and  yet  he  never  published 
his  doings  to  the  world  and  but  few  knew  the  goodness  of 
his  heart  and  the  noble  Christian  work  he  did. 

One  icho  folloiced  him  to  Paradise  less  than  three  months 
aftencards  : 
At  that  wonderful  service  today  I  could  not  help  thinking 
of  my  poor  father  and  how  much  more  lonely  he  will  be  now 
his  good  friend  has  gone;  and  during  the  singing  of  that 
glorious  hymn,  "Ten  Thousand  Times  Ten  Thousand,"  the 
thought  came  to  me  that  perhaps  even  now  the  two  who  ha\e 
been  so  recently  removed  from  the  Florida  household  may 
be  meeting  again  in  that  spiritual  world  where  partings  are 
no  more. 

Biltmore,  November  8,  1907. 


37 


IResolutions 


SPECIAL    MEETING    OF    ALDERMEN. 

Mayor  Campell  this  moruing  called  a  special  meeting  of 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  for  12  o'clock  for  the  purpose  of 
adopting  appropriate  resolutions  relative  to  the  death  of 
Capt.  Patton. 

The  aldermen  in  special  meeting  adopted  the  following 
resolutions : 

Whereas,  This  Board  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  the  city 
of  Asheville  have  learned  with  profound  regret  of  the  death 
of  Capt.  Thomas  W.  Patton,  a  former  mayor  of  this  city ; 
and, 

Whereas,  Captain  Patton's  life  was  closely  interwoven 
with  the  history  of  Asheville,  and  though  a  partisan,  he  was 
in  no  sense  a  politician,  and  he  served  the  municipality  for 
many  years  because  of  the  inflexible  integrity  of  his  charac- 
ter and  the  efficiency  of  his  work ;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Captain  Patton  Asheville 
has  lost  a  good  citizen,  a  man  notably  public-spirited  and  of 
the  strictest  integrity,  one  who  as  mayor  and  in  many  other 
positions  of  trust  and  honor,  brought  clear  insight  to  faithful 
labors. 

Resolved,  That  we  deplore  the  loss  of  his  widely  recog- 
nized leadership  and  authority  and  extend  our  sincere  sym- 
pathies to  his  family  in  this  hour  of  their  great  affliction. 

Resolved,  That  the  city  officials  attend  the  funeral  ser- 
vices in  a  body  and  that  the  city  bell  be  tolled  during  said 
services. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  sent  to  the 
family  of  the  deceased,  that  the  same  be  published  in  the 
city  press,  and  entered  upon  the  minutes  of  this  Board. 


38 


THE  LATE   CAPT.   PATTON. 


Resolutions  in  Acknowledgment  of  His  Work  for  Orphan  and 
Destitute  Children. 


Whereas,  Thomas  Walton  Patton,  who  died  at  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.,  on  the  7th  day  of  November,  1907,  was  the  first 
citizen  of  Buncombe  county  to  recognize  the  needs  of  the 
orphan  and  destitute  children  of  our  community,  and  by  his 
personal  and  family  influence  seek  to  provide  a  remedy  there- 
for, and 

Whereas,  After  long  and  patient  and  self-sacrificing  effort 
he  at  length  succeeded  in  creating  a  public  sentiment  for  the 
amelioration  of  the  condition  of  our  suffering  little  ones, 
which  resulted  at  first  in  the  establishment  of  a  Children's 
Home,  for  a  long  time  maintained  solely  by  private  charity, 
and  finally  by  assistance  from  the  county  funds ;  and 

Whereas,  The  Children's  Home,  as  now  constituted,  owes 
its  origin,  maintenance  and  present  existence  to  the  unselfish 
and  devoted  interest  of  the  said  Thomas  Walton  Patton, 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Capt.  Thomas  Walton  Pat- 
ton, the  orphan  and  destitute  children  of  the  city  of  Asheville 
and  the  county  of  Buncombe  have  lost  a  friend  and  benefac- 
tor, the  cause  of  humanity  and  Christianity  a  brave  and  con- 
sistent champion,  and  the  Children's  Home  of  Buncombe 
county,  as  an  institution,  a  wise,  far-seeing  and  benevolent 
guide,  counsellor  and  friend. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  preamble  and  res- 
olutions be  furnished  the  city  papers  for  publication  and  pre- 
sented to  the  surviving  members  of  his  family  in  token  of  our 
respect  and  regard  for  our  personal  friends,  whose  loss  to  us 
is  irretrievable. 

C.  T.  Rawls, 

J.   P.   HOWATT, 

DoKA  Doe, 
L.  B.  Penniman, 
Rebecca  Kimbeely, 
39  Committee. 


T.  W.  PATTON. 


Confederate  Veterans :  It  is  with  unusual  sadness  that  I 
make  known  to  you  the  death  of  our  lovetl  comrade,  ("apt. 
T.  W.  Patton,  and  ask  you  to  join  me  in  offering  condolence 
to  his  bereaved  family  in  their  irreparable  loss,  and  to  unite 
in  doing  honor  to  his  memory  in  attending  in  a  body  his 
funeral  services. 

We  esteemed  Capt.  Patton  in  common  with  all  who  knew 
him,  as  a  most  worthy  citizen,  but  there  were  ties  that  bound 
us  to  him  that  others  knew  not,  the  ties  of  loving  fellow- 
comradeship,  unlike  all  others  and  indescribable.  Those  of 
us  who  were  in  touch  with  him  in  the  "sixties"  as  soldiers 
in  the  arduous  service  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  from  Jackson 
to  Yicksburg,  Miss.,  at  Chicakamauga,  Lookout  Mountain, 
Missionary  Ridge,  in  the  hundred  days  campaign  from  Dal- 
ton  to  Atlanta  in  1SG4,  and  finally  at  Bentonville.  N.  i\,  in 
'05,  know  how  true  he  was  and  how  conscientiously  he  per- 
formed every  duty,  and  with  what  paternal  care  he  watched 
over  the  men  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  be  under  his 
command. 

We  bear  testimony  that  no  truer  soldier  had  the  Confed- 
eracy and  more  loyal  in  upholding  that  cause  so  dear  to  us. 
represented  by  the  "Stars  and  Bars." 

Capt.  Patton  commanded  Company  "C"  of  the  GOth  Reg., 
North  Carolina  Volunteers. 

The  funeral  services  are  supposed  to  take  place  at  Trinity 
church,  Friday  morning  at  11  o'clock.  Veterans  will  as- 
semble in  Confederate  Hall,  Friday  morning  at  10  :30. 

J.  M.  Ray. 


VESTRY    OF    TRINITY    CHURCH    TAKES    APPROPRI- 
ATE ACTION. 


The  vestry  of  Trinity  church,  of  which  the  late  lamented 
Captain  Patton  was  a  member  for  G4  years,  and  senior  war- 
den for  29  years,  assembled  at  a  called  meeting  at  noon  to- 

40 


day,  to  take  action  on  his  deatli.     The  foHowing  resohitions 
were  adopted  with  a  rising  vote: 

Wlicreas,  It  hath  pleased  the  gracious  Father  to  take 
unto  himself  the  soul  of  our  beloved  brother,  Thomas  Wal- 
ton Patton,  and  join  him  to  the  glorious  hosts  of  the  Church 
Triumphant,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  give  praise  and  thanks  for  the  genera- 
tion of  faithful,  loyal  service  that  he  renderd  to  the  church 
militant,  and  especially  for  the  unfailing  devotion  that 
helped  so  largely  to  uplift  and  upbuild  Trinity  Parish. 

Resolved,  That  we  rejoice  in  the  29  years  of  benefit  that 
this  parish  received  from  his  guidance  as  senior  warden  and 
also  in  the  precious  heritage  that  he  has  left  unto  us  of  an 
example  of  godly  life. 

Resolved,  That  we  lift  our  hearts  in  thanksgiving  for  his 
widow,  and  sister,  and  children,  that  they  have  been  granted 
the  blessed  privilege  of  knowing  how  truly  he  remained 
Christ's  faithful  soldier  and  servant  unto  his  life's  end. 

Resolved.  With  sorrowing  appreciation  of  their  great  loss, 
that  the  rector  and  vestry  of  Trinity  Parish  adopt  these  res- 
olutions with  a  rising  vote,  and  order  copies  of  them  to  be 
filed  on  the  minutes,  sent  to  the  bereaved  family,  and  also 
to  the  daily  papers  and  leading  church  periodicals. 

A  certified  copy  of  the  minutes  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity 

P.  E.  Church. 

Philip  R.  Moale, 

November  7,  1907.  Secretary. 


Asheville,  N.  C,  November  25,  1907. 

Whereas,  An  allwise  Providence  has  seen  fit  to  remove 
from  our  midst  our  beloved  brother,  Thomas  W.  Patton,  who 
for  nearly  twenty-five  years  was  an  active  member  of  our 
Council ;  and. 

Whereas,  Bro.  Thomas  W.  Patton,  who  by  his  integrity, 
charitable  acts  and  patriotism,  showed  an  example  of  high 

41 


ideals  to  be  followed,  and  was  always  ready  to  voice  bis  seu- 
timeut  for  wbat  be  tbougbt  was  rigbt  and  best,  and  in  wbat- 
ever  position  (private  or  public),  be  was  placed,  acted  witb 
ability,  integrity  and  for  tbe  good  of  all ;  tberefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  Tbat  in  tbe  deatb  of  Bro.  Tbomas  W.  Patton, 
French  Broad  Council,  No.  701,  Royal  Arcanum,  loses  one  of 
its  most  prominent  members,  tbe  city  and  State  one  of  tbeir 
most  useful  and  patriotic  citizens,  bis  family  an  affectionate 
and  indulgent  busband,  fatber  and  friend,  and  be  it  furtber 

Resolved,  Tbat  tbe  Council  offer  its  beartfelt  sympathy 
to  tbe  widow,  children  and  family  in  this  hour  of  greatest 
bereavement.  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  on  the  Coun- 
cil minutes,  a  copy  be  sent  to  tbe  family  and  the  city  papers, 
and  the  Charter  be  draped  in  mourning  for  thirty  daj's  as  a 
token  of  our  bereavement. 

S.    LiPINSKY, 

H.  Taylor  Rogers, 
John  Machin, 

Committee. 


Whereas,  In  tbe  providence  of  God,  our  brother,  Thomas 
W.  Patton,  has  been  called  to  his  reward  in  the  higher  life, 
we,  the  members  of  the  Missionary  Committee  of  the  Dis- 
trict of  Asheville,  beg  leave  to  make  this  record : 

First,  That  we  appreciate  his  great  love  for  the  Church, 
and  his  unfailing  devotion  in  her  behalf. 

Second,  That  in  his  death  we  have  lost  a  wise  leader,  a 
most  devoted  and  practical  worker  in  the  cause  of  Missions. 

Third,  That  tbe  example  of  bis  unselfish  life  of  practical 
Christian  activity  has  been  a  help  to  those  who  knew  him, 
and  his  memory  will  be  held  dear  by  the  poor  and  afflicted, 
for  whom  he  did  so  much. 

Fourth,  That  this  report  be  made  a  part  of  the  minutes 

42 


of  the  Missionary  Commitee,  and  a  copy  be  sent  to  his  fam- 
ily. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

W.  G.  McCready, 
McNeely  DuBose. 
Alfred  H.  Stubbs, 

Committee. 


North  Carolina  Division,  U.  D.  C, 

Asheville,  November  14,  1907. 
To  Mrs.  T.  W.  Patton  and  Family,  Miss  F.  L.  Fatton  : 

As  one  by  one  the  veterans  of  our  Southern  cause  answer 
to  the  summons  of  the  Captain  of  the  Heavenly  hosts,  the 
Daughters  of  the  Confederacy,  while  bowing  in  humble  sub- 
mission to  Divine  authority,  mourn  the  loss  of  their  faithful 
sympathizers.  It  is  with  peculiar  sorrow  that  the  Asheville 
Chapter  U.  D.  C.  records  the  death  of  Captain  T.  W.  Patton. 
We  feel  that  the  city  has  lost  a  valuable  citizen,  the  poor 
and  needy  an  ever-willing  and  helpful  friend,  and  the  U. 
D.  C.  an  honored  ex-Confederate  who  was  ever  true  and 
faithful  to  the  "Lost  Cause." 

We,  as  a  Chapter,  will  revere  his  memory,  and  desire  to 
extend  to  his  family  our  sincere  and  heartfelt  sympathy  in 
this  sad  hour  of  bereavement. 

Mrs.  E.  C.  Chambers, 
Mrs.  F.  J.  Clemenger, 
Mrs.  Jas.  H.  Wood, 
Mrs.  Ed.  McDowell, 

Committee. 


THE   HENRIETTA. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Patton:  The  Board  of  Managers  of  The 
Henrietta  have  requested  me  to  convey  to  yourself  and  fam- 
ily our  deep  feeling  of  sympathy  with  you  at  this  time. 

43 


We  kuow  that  words  are  useless  to  help  bear  this  sorrow, 
but  the  human  heart  must  be  strengthened  by  the  love  of 
such  a  great  band  of  friends  who  are  stricken  with  the  same 
blow,  and  they  would  surround  you  and  yours  with  the  lov- 
ing thought  of  comfort,  that  the  beautiful  life  that  has  been 
lived  beside  you  has  been  spared  to  j'ou  so  long. 

Believe  me  when  I  say  it  has  been  an  inspiration  to  many 
and  will  not  cease  to  be  so  to  many  more  in  time  to  come.  As 
a  Board  we  feel  that  we  have  lost  our  best  friend  and  ad- 
viser, and  that  a  steadfast  prop  has  been  taken  from  this 
work. 

May  our  Father  comfort  you  all. 
Most  sincerely, 

Charity  Rusk  Craig. 

November  14,  1907. 

After  the  first  sorrow  of  the  news  of  your  loss  came  these 
lines  recalled  themselves  to  me: 

"Servant  of  God,  well  done; 

Rest  from  thy  loved  employ ; 
The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won. 
Enter  thy  Master's  joy." 


LINDLEY   TRAINING    SCHOOL. 

We,  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Lindley  Training 
School,  in  meeting  assembled,  wish  to  place  on  record  the 
great  sorrow  we  feel  at  the  death  of  Capt.  T.  W.  Pattoii, 
who  has  ever  been  the  good  friend  and  counsellor  of  this 
school,  and  also  of  all  good  works  in  this  city. 

And  we  also  extend  to  Mrs.  Patton,  our  esteemed  fellow- 
worker,  our  heartfelt  sympathy  at  this  time  and  pray  God 
to  comfort  her  and  have  her  ever  in  His  keeping.  To  the 
entire  family  we  would  that  we  could  lighten  their  sorrow, 

44 


but  we  know  that  the  beautiful  hfe  will  be  an  inspiration 
and  comfort  to  them  always,  and,  as  time  goes  by,  strengthen 
them  in  all  life's  troubles. 


B3'  order  of  the  Board. 
November  IG,  1907. 


M.  E.  HiLLiARD.  President. 
C.  R.  Craig.  Secretary. 


THE    WOMAN'S    GUILD   OF   TRINITY    PARISH. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Patton :  For  the  Woman's  Guild  I  am  in- 
structed to  send  to  you  and  to  Miss  Fanny,  assurances  of  our 
deep  and  earnest  sympathy  in  your  great  sorrow. 

You  have  had  abundant  evidence  of  the  universality  of 
the  mourning,  and  it  will  be  hard  indeed,  to  those  of  us 
whose  memories  are  life-long,  to  all  Asheville,  and  Trinity 
Parish  especially,  without  the  loved  and  honored  figure  just 
withdrawn  from  us.  The  annals  of  the  I'arish  and  of  the 
community  are  full  of  the  good  deeds  he  has  done — but  there 
is  a  longer  and  a  sweeter  story  still  of  "that  best  portion  of 
a  good  man's  life,  his  little,  nameless,  unrennembered  acts 
of  kindness  and  of  love."  Your  store  of  precious  memories 
will  be  ever  brightening  through  the  years  that  remain. 

Our  hearts  are  with  you  all  and  we  pray  that  you  may 
be  helped  and  comforted. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Mary  M.  Pulliam, 

November  9th,  1907.  Secret ary  ^Y.  G. 


DUNEDIN   YACHT   CLUB. 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God  in  His  allwise 
providence  to  remove  from  us,  by  death,  our  friend  and  fel- 
low member,  Capt.  T.  W.  Patton,  we,  the  members  of  the 

45 


Dunediu  Yacht  Club  desire  to  put  on  reeorcl  our  sense  of  per- 
sonal loss  in  his  removal  from  us. 

Capt.  Patton  was  a  man  of  singular  rectitude  of  character 
and  life,  a  man  of  large  and  varied  sympathy  with  all  the 
poor,  unfortunate  and  distressed  who  came  within  reach  of 
his  knowledge — a  cultivated  Christian  gentleman. 

He  had  served  his  country  in  time  of  need,  had  been  Ik^ji- 
ord  by  his  fellow  citizens  in  his  own  home  at  Asheville,  N. 
C,  having  served  them  in  various  offices  of  public  trust,  in- 
cluding the  highest  office  which  they  could  confer  upon  him, 
that  of  mayor.  He  was  a  man  diligent  and  active  in  every 
good  work  for  the  welfare  of  the  people  among  whom  his 
life  was  spent. 

His  life  voyage  has  ended ;  he  has  safely  crossed  the  bar 
and  seen  his  pilot  face  to  face. 

We  extend  to  his  widow  and  family  our  sincere  sympathy 
with  them  in  their  great  bereavement,  and  direct  that  a  copv 
of  this  paper  be  sent  to  Mrs.  Patton. 

W.  H.  Malone, 
C.  A.  J.  Grant,  Secrctarij.  Commodore. 


From  Bishop  Horner's  Convention  Address,  June,  1908: 

During  the  year  we  have  lost  a  lay  officer  of  this  District, 
whose  valuable  and  distinguished  services  to  the  Church  in 
many  ways  make  it  fitting  that  we  speak  of  him.  Capt. 
Thomas  W.  Patton  was  for  many  years  the  efficient  Treas- 
urer of  the  District.  He  was  a  Trustee  of  the  District  and 
was  always  considered  a  valuable  member  of  any  committee 
upon  which  he  would  serve,  and  because  of  his  good  judg- 
ment in  all  things,  he  was  called  upon  to  serve  on  as  many 
committees  of  the  Church  as  his  time  and  strength  would 
permit.  Because  of  his  great,  valuable  and  honored  service 
to  the  Church,  I  deem  it  fitting  that  we  depart  from  our 
usual  custom  of  placing  a  memorial  page  in  our  Journal  to 
deceased  Clergymen  only,  and  have  placed  there  a  memoi-ial 
page  to  Capt.  Thomas  W.  Patton. 

46 


MEMORIAL   OF   THOMAS   WALTON    PATTON. 


{Taken  from  Journal  of  Episcopal  Convention.) 


These  auuiial  gatherings  of  our  Church,  besides  their 
formal  legislative  character,  are  occasions  for  pleasant  asso- 
ciation and  opportunities  for  cementing  friendships  and  stim- 
ulating one  another  to  love  and  good  works.  Into  the  tex- 
ture of  these  meetings  there  are  introduced  from  time  to  time 
the  threads  of  sorrow  and  separation — a  familiar  face  is 
missed,  and  we  learn  that  another  "laborer's  work  is  o'er." 

Today  we  miss  the  presence  of  Thomas  Walton  Patton, 
and,  as  we  recall  the  story  of  his  life,  we  feel  that  a  good 
man  has  gone  to  his  reward  and  that  the  Church  which  he  so 
dearly  loved  has  lost  a  faithful  servant,  and  those  who  were 
privileged  to  know  him  a  dear  friend. 

His  life  was  passed  during  the  most  momentous  years  of 
our  national  history,  and  his  character  was  necessarily 
moulded  by  the  influence  of  those  stirring  times.  Born  in 
the  period  that  we  affectionately  speak  of  as  the  "Old  South." 
he  wielded  his  sword  and  periled  his  life  for  what  he 
esteemed  the  sacred  principles  of  liberty ;  and  he  lived  to  see 
the  rude  scars  of  war  almost  completely  effaced  and  a  united 
people  occupying  the  land  from  the  Gulf  to  the  great  North- 
ern lakes. 

In  our  conflict  with  Si>ain,  at  an  age  when  most  men 
w^ould  have  shrunk  from  the  hardships  of  army  life.  Captain 
Patton  eagerly  embraced  them  that  he  might  use  his  veteran 
experience  for  the  benefit  of  the  untried  youths  who  volun- 
teered in  their  country's  service. 

It  was  characteristic  of  the  man  to  thus  sympathize  with 
the  younger  generation  and  to  spend  himself  in  any  cause 
which  he  believed  to  be  right  and  just. 

In  the  community  in  which  he  lived,  his  high  sense  of 
honor,  his  unblemished  integrity,  his  enthusiasm  for  civic 
righteousness  commended  him  to  his  fellow  citizens  as  one 

47 


TO  whom  they  could  entrust,   as  they  repeatedly  did,  their 
most  important  affairs. 

His  religions  life  was  marked  l)y  a  simple  earnest  piety. 
lie  was  devoted  to  the  Chnrch  and  intelligently  apprehended 
her  doctrines  and  modes  of  worship,  which  influenced  and 
directed  all  the  circumstances  of  his  life.  lie  took  a  promi- 
nent part  iu  the  organized  forms  of  Church  activity  and  was 
a  wise  and  helpful  counsellor  in  the  Conventions  of  the  Dio- 
cese of  North  Carolina,  and,  after  its  organization,  in  the 
District  of  Asheville,  which  he  repeatedly  represented  in  the 
General  Convention. 

His  family  life  was  ideal,  and  his  association  with  his 
friends  full  of  sweetness.  As  his  life  drew  toward  its  close 
his  religious  fervor  and  deep  spirituality  were  thrown  into 
greater  relief  as  of  one  who  was  heing  wrapt  more  and  more 
in  the  spirit  of  the  Lord. 

Mourning  his  loss  we  esteem  his  many  virtues,  and  "thank 
God  for  the  good  example  of  this  his  servant,  who  having  fin- 
ished his  course  in  faith,  doth  now  rest  from  his  labors." 

R.  R.   SwoPE. 

J.  A.  Df:AL. 

R.  R.  Rawls, 

Committee. 


On  motion  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Swope,  it  was  resolved  that  a 
memorial  page  in  memory  of  our  late  Treasurer,  Mr.  Thomas 
W.  Patton,  be  inserted  in  the  proceedings  of  this  present  Con- 
vention. 


48 


IFn  fIDemonum 


^boma0  TMalton  patton 

Born  ill  Asbeville,  N.  C,  May  Stli,  1841. 
Treasurer  and  Trustee  of  the  District  of  Asbe- 
ville since  its  organization. 
Deputy  to  the  General  Convention  1004-7. 
Vestryman  and  Senior  Warden  of  Trinity  Par- 
ish, Asheville,  1867-1907. 
Lay  Reader  at  Trinity  Church  and  Neighboring 

Missions. 

Captain  of  Infantry  in  the  Confederate  Service. 

Adjutant  in  the  Spanish-American  War. 

Occupied  many  public  positions  of  trust 

and  responsibility. 

''Thorouglihj  identified  icitli  every  phase  of 
life,  business,  pliilantliropic  and  religious,  he 
was  the  icarm  friend  of  the  poor,  the  illiterate, 
and  the  outeast." 

Died  November  6th.  1907. 


49 


*ffn  nDemonum 


Since  the  last  annual  report  we  have  sus- 
tained a  very  grievous  loss  in  the  death  of  Capt. 
Thomas  W.  Patton. 

Capt.  Patton  was  one  of  the  original  members 
of  the  Advisory  Board  of  the  Hospital,  and  was 
deeply  interested  in  all  that  concerned  the  insti- 
tution. 

A  patriotic  and  public-spirited  citizen,  brave, 
generous  and  gentle.  We  deplore  his  loss,  and 
wish  in  this  formal  and  official  manner  to  pay 
the  tribute  of  our  respect  to  his  memory. 


51 


tribute  to  tbe  Xate  Capt.  patton  b^  a 
IbiQb  Scbool  Stubcnt. 


The  seniors  of  the  High  School  were  asked  hist  \Yeek  to 
^Yrite  upon  the  life  of  Captain  Pattou.  The  follo^Ying  is  from 
Jake  Londow,  aged  17 : 

Thomas  Patton. 

"Small  service  is  true  service  while  it  lasts ; 

Of  humblest  friends,  bright  creature :  scorn  not  one : 
The  daisy  by  the  shadow  that  it  casts 

Protects  the  lingering  dewdrop  from  the  sun." 

Tlius  wrote  the  immortal  Wordsworth.  The  thought, 
though  clad  in  such  simple  language,  is  a  great  truth.  Every 
creature,  every  being  that  renders  assistance  to  another  de- 
serves credit  and  even  admiration.  How  much  praise  and 
glory  is  due  him  who  has  made  thousands  happy  I  Greatness 
is  measured  by  service  done  for  humanity.  Is  there  anything 
nobler  than  to  assist  in  alleviating  the  suffering  of  man,  or 
in  inspiring  him  with  faith?  Abou  Ben  Adhem,  who  loved 
his  fellow  men,  headed  the  list  of  those  who  loved  the  Lord. 
Life  is  indeed  an  unknown  quantity.  AYe  cannot  understand 
the  purpose  of  our  creation.  Yet,  the  desire  to  live  is  com- 
mon to  all,  and  we  instinctively  know  that  we  must  assist 
each  other  in  the  struggle  for  existence. 

#  ^  ^  H:  H:  ^  H< 

Looking  at  greatness  from  this  viewpoint,  we  must  con- 
cede that  Captain  Patton  was  great  as  well  as  noble.  He 
spent  the  few  years  allotted  him  in  the  interest  of  humanity. 
In  civil,  religious  and  military  affairs  he  stood  in  the  front 
ranks.  To  serve  his  neighbor,  his  city,  his  state,  his  county, 
in  any  capacity,  was  his  ambition. 

52 


Thomas  Patton  was  a  man  of  integrity  and  of  fixed  i,v'm- 
ciples.  He  believed  in  the  justness  of  the  Southern  cans?. 
The  horrors  of  war  and  tlie  attending  misery  did  not  deter 
him  from  fighting  f(n-  that  cause.  The  close  of  that  civil 
strife  found  him  willing  to  forget  the  past  and  ready  to  hehj 
build  up  a  great  future:  to  unite  the  North  and  South  under 
one  glorious  flag,  and  not  in  theory  alone.  How  many 
hearts  must  have  been  stirred  with  patriotism  as  he  marched 
away  with  his  younger  brothers  to  the  Spanish-American 
war!     Again  was  he  prepared  to  aid  in  a  just  struggle. 

When  called  upon  to  take  certain  offices  he  gave  the  city 
clean,  business-like  administration.  In  fact,  civic  righteous- 
ness was  his  contention. 

The  Governor  of  this  State  called  on  him  several  times  to 
serve  on  the  committees  of  "public  institutions"  and  "chari- 
ties." In  this  capacity  he  appeared  the  champion  of  justice, 
morality  and  charity.  The  suffering  of  the  convicts  appealed 
to  him,  and  he  urged  prison  reform.  After  years  of  study 
Capt.  Patton  was  convinced  that  capital  punishment  was 
wrong,  and  he  earnestly  desired  its  abolishment,  and  ^^'hen 
not  serving  the  people  officially  he  was  always  in  the  ranks, 
exerting  all  his  efforts  for  the  poor  and  miserable  as  for  the 
whole  city.  New  plans,  new  reforms  were  proposed  by  him 
in  our  newspapers.  To  every  cause  which  he  deemed  worthy 
he  gave  both  moral  and  financial  support.  In  the  last  letter 
written  to  The  Gazette-News  he  expresses  hope  that  tlie  eiiy 
will  Imild  voting  places,  beautiful  in  architecture,  whicli  wlU 
inspire  the  voter  with  noble  thoughts.  He  looked  forward  to 
a  time  when  suffrage  will  be  extended  to  women,  for  he  l>e- 
lieved  that  '•all  mankind  are  created  equal." 

In  ancient  times,  the  military  victors  were  held  in  great 
esteem.  The  soldier  who  shed  the  most  blood  was  the  hero 
of  the  day.  Although  the  prophecies  of  the  Divine  insinred 
Isaiah  have  not  been  realized  :  although  the  dream  of  Tenny- 
son has  not  yet  come  true,  mankind  now  knows  that  not  the 
soldier,  but  the  workman  who  shapes  and  moulds  ;i  more 
spiritual  humanity,  is  the  true  hero,  and  that  his  fame  will 
be  lasting. 

53 


Coloreb  /iDen's  tribute  to  Xate/lDr,  patton. 


Editor  of  The  Asheville  Citizen : 

Please  grant  space  for  a  colored  man's  word  of  humble 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  late  Captain  T.  W.  Patton.  Out 
of  the  goodness  of  his  heart  Captain  Patton  stood  by  and  be- 
friended me  and  my  household  through  many  checkered  years 
— through  so  many  years,  in  fact,  that  I  saw  my  children 
grow  from  babyhood  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  During 
these  years  there  often  came  to  me  days  that  were  dark,  but 
no  day  so  dark  that  it  was  not  in  some  way  relieved  by  his 
goodness.  And  amid  his  other  kindly  deeds  to  me  I  count 
his  good  advice  and  counsel  as  no  means  least,  though  there 
were  times,  perhaps,  when  I  was  not  as  observant  of  these 
last  as  I  might  have  been.  What  wonder,  then,  that  I  should 
feel  impelled  to  lay  upon  his  honored  grave  some  sprig  or 
leaf  in  token  of  grateful  remembrance? 

Captain  Patton  was  true  as  steel  to  the  traditions  of  the 
better  South,  that  South  against  which  a  scrutinizing  world 
finds  little  or  naught  to  say.  He  was  in  all  respects  one  of 
the  South's  true  noblemen.  Though  about  him  there  might 
be  apostacy  from  the  Old  South's  best  ideals,  he  seemed 
never  to  forget  that  the  South  had  a  traditional  better  self, 
of  which  he,  for  one,  meant  to  be  worthy.  Like  a  Roman 
patron  come  down  to  these  latter  days,  he  lived  steadily  on 
in  the  light  of  the  South's  golden  age  of  chivalry.  Reflected 
from  the  fast-receding  years,  this  beneficent  light  of  Southern 
characteristic.  As  anything  feature  of  our  American  slave- 
time — each  year  grows  less  perceptible  as  a  Southern  char- 
acteristic. As  anything  like  a  pronounced  feature,  this  light 
of  chivalry  will  some  day  disappear.  Captain  Patton  mani- 
festly did  not  intend  that  it  should  disappear  in  him. 
Thereby  guiding  himself  the  meanwhile,  he  also  held  the 
light  for  others  high  uplifted,  and  revealed  it  anew  as  the 

54 


South's  best  grace.  By  every  consideratiou — race,  wealth, 
position,  intellectual  endowment — he  was  a  man  of  might; 
yet  to  him  it  were  a  shame  that  the  strong  man,  merely  be- 
cause strong,  should  make  any  ignoble  use  of  his  strength  in 
relation  to  the  weak  and  lowly.  To  be  sure,  he  upheld,  in  the 
strong  and  enlightened,  the  right  to  guide,  lead  and  rule ;  but 
he  denied  to  the  strong  the  right  to  abuse  their  power,  and 
laid  upon  them  the  obligation  to  guard  and  defend  the  de- 
fenseless, and  minister  in  acts  of  kindly  helpfulness  to  those 
who  are  beneath  them.  Such  was  hi,s  creed,  and  such  his 
rule  of  life  so  far  as  his  humble  fellow  creatures  were  con- 
cerned. The  grand  thought  that  seemed  ever  to  lie  big  in 
his  great  and  noble  soul  was  this,  that  rank  imposes  obliga- 
tion. He  was  one  of  God's  ambassadors  to  the  world,  and  he 
delivered  his  message  well.  The  weary  and  lowly  heard  that 
message,  looked  up,  and  were  glad,  men  in  high  places  heard 
it,  and  were  made  ashamed.  And  now  that  the  last  chapter 
in  his  book  of  mortal  life  has  been  written  and  ";?/?/.S'"  fol- 
lows after  all,  he  stands  before  the  Maker  justified  and  un- 
accused. The  friend  of  mankind,  he  was  the  friend  of  God, 
and  trembles  before  the  great  white  throne.  ^Master  Chris- 
tian that  he  was  in  life,  his  is  the  victor's  crown  in  the  bet- 
ter land.  That  he  may  rest  in  peace,  and  his  sainted  meui- 
ory  be  embalmed  for  the  keeping  of  years,  is  the  sincere  wish 
of  one  that  he  helped  and  blessed  in  life. 

E.    H.    LiPSCOMBE. 

Wadesboro,  N.  C,  Dec.  12,  1907. 


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